Mobil track survey apparatus for determining the tract camber

ABSTRACT

Two sensing elements each having two sensing members respectively engaged with the two rails and spaced apart in the track elongation direction survey the vertical positions of the rails to determine the track camber. Two link elements respectively interconnect opposite sensing members of the respective sensing elements. An electric measuring signal generator is connected between the two links and transmits to an indicator an electric measuring signal proportional to any movement between the two links relative to each other.

United States Patent 11 1 1111 3,751,815

Plasser et al. Aug. 14, 1973 [54] MOBIL TRACK SURVEY APPARATUS FOR 1,906,170 4/1933 Mauzin 33/144 DETERMINING THE TRACT C AMBER 2,784,496 3/1957 Rousse 3,514,862 6/1970 Helgemeir Inventors: Franz nJose T eurenb h of 2,113,785 4/1938 Drake 33/144 Vienna; Manfred Schweinhammer, neutscbwagram, an of Austria FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 220,183 3/1962 Austria 33/144 [731 Assgnm 39,552 5/1965 Germany 33/144 Bahnbaumaschmen- I gf zg Vienna Primary Examiner-Louis R. Prince Assistant Examiner-Dennis A. Dearing [22] Filed: June 23, 1971 Attorney-Kurt Kelman [2]] Appl. No.: 155,852

[57] ABSTRACT [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Two sensing elements each having two sensing mem- July 9, 1970 Austria 6270 respectively engaged with the fails and Spaced I I apart in the track elongation direction survey the verti- 52 US. Cl. .L 33/146 eel Positions of the rails to determine the Week eember- [51] Int. Cl. G1 1b 9/08 Two nnk elements respectively interconnect opposite [58 Field of Search 33/287, 144, 146, Sensing members of the respeetive sensing elements- 33 333; 104 107 R, 0 An electric measuring signal generator is connected between the two links and transmits to an indicator an [56] References Cited A electric measuring signal'proportional to any move- UNITED STATES PATENTS I ment between the two links relative to each other.

2,167,081 7/1939 Mauzin 33/338 3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 6G I I I0 7 3 7 nil A MOBIL TRACK SURVEY APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING THE TRACT CAMBER The present invention relates to improvements in mobile track survey apparatus designed to determine the camber of a track, i.e. the difference in the vertical positions or grades of the two track rails.

Apparatus of this general type is known wherein two sensing elements, such as axles having flanged wheels, each engaged with both rails are spaced apart in the track elongation direction whereby the engaged sensing elements survey the vertical position of each rail. A measuring mechanism interconnects the two sensing elements so that it measures the angle between the two axles of the sensing elements in a plane extending transversely of the track as the apparatus moves in the track elongation direction. The measuring system consists of levers or the like, which mades it rather complex and also is subject to errors and/or operating difficulties.

It has also been proposed to measure the camber of a track by means of four rail engaging wheels forming a rectangle and resiliently supporting a chassis. The vertical movement of each wheel in respect of the chassis was electrically measured and the four electrical measuring devices were connected to form an electrical measuring bridge producing a measuring signal corresponding to the track camber. In addition to being quite expensive, this arrangement has the additional disadvantage of falsifying the camber readings because the vibrations of the chassis enter into the measurements.

It is the primary object of this invention to overcome these and other disadvantages and to provide a track survey apparatus with instrumentation which is not only simple and, therefore, inexpensive to manufacture and operate but also accurately determines the track camber independently of the vibrations of the apparatus.

This and other objects are accomplished in accordance with the invention by two link elements respectively interconnecting one of the rail sensing members of one of the sensing elements engaging one of the rails with one of the sensing members of the other sensing element engaging the other rail, and connecting an electrical measuring signal generator and transmitter between the two link elements for generating and transmitting an electric measuring signal proportional to any movement between the two links relative to each other. An indicator is connected to the signal generator and transmitter for indicating the measuring signal.

Since two sensing members engaged with opposite rails are directly linked, plays between the transmissions are largely eliminated so as to increase the accuracy of the measurements.

According to one feature of the present invention, the electric measuring signal generator and transmitter comprises an inductance bridge, a housing for the brige being afiixed to one link, and the armature of the bridge moving in the housing is affixed to the other link. A measuring bridge is thus formed and is connected to the indicator, which may include a signal recorder, preferably via an amplifier.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of this invention, the apparatus has achassis and one of the sensing elements is constituted by a running gear supporting the chassis. The wheels of the running gear constitute the sensing mem bers of the one sensing element, and the other sensing element is mounted on the chassis substantially free of load. This has the advantage that the apparatus will survey not only the track camber but also the track conditions, i.e. the elastic deformation of the rails under a load. The track condition is of decisive importance to the operating safety of the track and, since the track survey car or the track correction machine incorporating the present invention is equivalent to a railroad car, its passage is equivalent thereto in determining the track condition. It can thus be readily determined whether track maintenance work, such as ballast tamping, is needed.

Measuring errors will be most effectively avoided with an arrangement in which the two links extend diagonally between respective sensing members to which they are connected, the two diagonal links intersect and are vertically spaced at the point of intersection, where the measuring signal generator is mounted. One end of each diagonal link is then pivoted to a respective sensing element adjacent one rail, and a vertically extending arm is mounted on each sensing element adjacent the other rail, with the other ends of the diagonal links pivoted to respective ones of the arms.

If the camber measuring apparatus is used on a track tamping and leveling machine, for instance, the indica tor preferably includes the controls for the track working tools which will thus be operated under the guidance of the measuring signals.

The above and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description of some now preferred embodiments thereof, taken in conjunc tion with the accompanying drawing wherein FIG. 1 is a side view of a track survey car incorporating the instrumentation of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic perpsective view of one embodiment of the apparatus for determining the track camber;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view, partly in section, of the embodiment of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a transverse section along line lV-IV of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram erator and transmitter.

Referring now to the drawing, wherein like reference numerals designate like parts operating in a like manner in all figures, FIG. 1 shows a track survey car having a chassis 3 and a body 4. The chassis is supported on running gears 2, 2' whose wheels run on track rails I, 1 so that the track survey car is mounted for mobility in the direction of track elongation. In the illustrated embodiment, the car is self-propelled, a drive motor 5 being connected to the axle of running gear 2 for moving the car along the track. Measuring gears 6, 6', 6" are mounted on the chassis for vertically freely moving in respect of the chassis, the measuring gear unit 6' being arranged intermediate and substantially centrally between the running gears 2, 2'. Each measuring gear comprises two rail position sensing elements constituted by axles 9a, 9b respectively carrying rail sensing members 6a, 6b constituted by flanged wheels. Each measuring gear is mounted on the chassis free of load by pivotal support rods 7 one of whose ends is pivoted to the underside of chassis 3. Obliquely outwardly directed hydraulic motors 8 connect respective axles of each measuring gear unit to the chassis so that each gear may be lifted off the track rails when not in use. Due to their outward bias, the hydraulic motors simulof a measuring signal gentaneously serve to press the flanged wheels 6a, 6b of the measuring axles 9a, 9b against a respective rail.

The ordinates, ie the later alignment of the track rails, are measured by all three measuring gear units 6, 6, 6" in a manner fully described and claimed in concurrently filed application Ser. No. 155,851, entitled Mobile Track Survey Apparatus" of which the joint inventors Franz Plasser and Josef Theurer are also joint inventors. The illustrated car also carries apparatus 15 for determining the track camber according to the present invention, computers 17 to which the measured signals may be fed, and signal indicator 12 and recorder 13.

One embodiment of the apparatus 15 is shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 which illustrate only one running gear 2', one of the end measuring gears 6" (used for surveying the alignment) and the center measuring gear unit 6' which is also used herein for determining the camber in cooperation with running gear 2'. For this purpose, diagonally extending links 18a, 18b have respective ends linked to the axle of running gear 2' adjacent the wheels 2a, 2b thereof and to the measuring gear unit 6' adjacent its flanged wheels 60, 6b. The running gear constitutes the one sensing element and the measuring gear unit 6' constitutes the other sensing element. The links respectively interconnect the sensing members of the sensing elements engaging the opposite rails. The ends of the links adjacent one rail are pivoted to the respective axles by a universal joint 20 while vertical arms 19 extend from the axles adjacent the opposite rail for pivotally mounting the opposite ends of the links. Furthermore, another link 21 extending transversely of the rails interconnects the two diagonal links between their point of intersection and the running gear 2'.

In the vertical space between the two links at the point of intersection, the measuring signal generator 22, 23 is mounted, consisting of armature 22 affixed to link 18a and inductance bridge housing 23 affixed to link 18b. Thus, when the two links move in relation to each other due to a track camber, a proportional electric measuring signal will be generated, as more fully explained hereinafter in connection with FIG. 5.

F l6. schematically illustrates the inductance bridge which generates and transmits a signal responsive to the movement of the links. The signal generator and transmitter comprises a cylindrical housing 23 of stainless steel wherein a differential reactance with an axially movable armature 22 is mounted. Two measuring coils 25, 25 are electrically connected to form half an inductance bridge connected to a carrier frequency amplifier 26, the bridge being completed by two precision resistances (not shown). The amplifier receives current from an electrical current supply circuit through an operating voltage stabilizer 27. When the armature 22 moves, the Wheatstone bridge is unbalanced and a measuring signal (current or voltage) is generated. This signal is proportional to the movement of the armature which, in turn, corresponds to the movement of the link to which it is affixed. The signal is amplified at 26 and, after being rectified, the measuring signal is transmitted to an indicator 12 and/or the signal recording instrument 13.

We claim:

1. A mobile track survey apparatus for determining the camber of a track having two rails and mounted for mobility on the track rails for movement in the direction of elongation of the track, the apparatus comprismg 1. two sensing elements spaced apart in the track elongation direction and each element comprising a. an axle carrying two rail sensing members respectively engaging a respective one of the track rails;

2. two diagonally extending and intersecting link elements vertically spaced at the point of intersection and respectively interconnecting one of the sensing members of one of the sensing elements engaging one of the rails with one of the sensing members of the other sensing element engaging the other rail;

3. an electric measuring signal generator and transmitter mounted in the vertical space between the links at the point of intersection, the measuring signal generator and transmitter being constituted by an inductance bridge including a housing affixed to one of the links and an armature moving in the housing, the armature being affixed to the other link,

a. whereby an electric measuring signal proportional to any movement between the two links relative to each other is generated; and

4. an indicator connected to the signal generator and transmitter for indicating the measuring signal.

2. The mobile track survey apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a vertically extending arm mounted on each of the sensing elements adjacent one of the rails, one of the ends of each diagonal link being pivoted to a respective one of the arms and the other ends of the diagonal links being pivoted to a respective one of the sensing elements.

3. The mobile track survey apparatus of claim 1 wherein the indicator includes an electric signal rei i t i 

1. A mobile track survey apparatus for determining the camber of a track having two rails and mounted for mobility on the track rails for movement in the direction of elongation of the track, the apparatus comprising
 1. two sensing elements spaced apart in the track elongation direction and each element comprising a. an axle carrying two rail sensing members respectively engaging a respective one of the track rails;
 2. two diagonally extending and intersecting link elements vertically spaced at the point of intersection and respectively interconnecting one of the sensing members of one of the sensing elements engaging one of the rails with one of the sensing members of the other sensing element engaging the other rail;
 3. an electric measuring signal generator and transmitter mounted in the vertical space between the links at the point of intersection, the measuring signal generator and transmitter being constituted by an inductance bridge including a housing affixed to one of the links and an armature moving in the housing, the armature being affixed to the other link, a. whereby an electric measuring signal proportional to any movement between the two links relative to each other is generated; and
 4. an indicator connected to the signal generator and transmitter for indicating the measuring signal.
 2. two diagonally extending and intersecting link elements vertically spaced at the point of intersection and respectively interconnecting one of the sensing members of one of the sensing elements engaging one of the rails with one of the sensing members of the other sensing element engaging the other rail;
 2. The mobile track survey apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a vertically extending arm mounted on each of the sensing elements adjacent one of the rails, one of the ends of each diagonal link being pivoted to a respective one of the arms and the other ends of the diagonal links being pivoted to a respective one of the sensing elements.
 3. The mobile track survey apparatus of claim 1 wherein the indicator includes an electric signal recorder.
 3. an electric measuring signal generator and transmitter mounted in the vertical space between the links at the point of intersection, the measuring signal generator and transmitter being constituted by an inductance bridge including a housing affixed to one of the links and an armature moving in the housing, the armature being affixed to the other link, a. whereby an electric measuring signal proportional to any movement between the two links relative to each other is generated; and
 4. an indicator connected to the signal generator and transmitter for indicating the measuring signal. 